TAIPEI / SINGAPORE:
Captain of TransAsia Airways says he ‘mistakenly’ switched off the plane’s only working engine, seconds before it crashed in February, killing 43 people, Taiwan’s Aviation Safety Council (ASC) said in its latest report on Thursday.
The ASC report also claimed that Captain Liao Jian-zong, who was controlling the plan, had failed ‘simulator training’ in May 2014, because he had insufficient knowledge of how to deal with an engine flame-out on take-off.
“Wow, pulled back the wrong side throttle,” Liao, 41, was heard to say on voice recordings seconds before the crash.
Seconds later the ATR 72-600, which had 58 people on board, crashed upside down into a shallow river in downtown Taipei after it lurched between buildings, clipping an overpass and a taxi. Fifteen people survived.
TransAsia had no immediate comment about the latest findings but was due to hold a media briefing later on Thursday.